Palliative Care

Palliative care provides symptom relief for seniors living with a severe illness. Services may include personalized therapies, nutrition advice, and more.

Learning the signs that death is near will help you prepare for this inevitability and ensure that your loved one gets the care they need to manage end-of-life symptoms and remain comfortable.

The slow and unpredictable progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias often makes it tricky for families and even doctors to determine when to bring in hospice. Use these guidelines to decide if a loved one is a candidate for end-of-life care.

Hospice, palliative care, home-based care, hospital-based care and long-term care facilities are all viable end of life care options. Compare end of life care types, where they are provided, the benefits offered and how these services are paid for.

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a type of dementia that is often overshadowed by the most prevalent kind, Alzheimer's disease. To clear up the confusion, here are eight facts everyone should know about LBD.

An advance medical directive is a legal document that identifies a person’s health care preferences in the event they become unable to make decisions for themselves. Advance care planning provides invaluable guidance and peace of mind for family members.

Calling in hospice for the care of an elderly parent or other a loved one means you need to come to terms, on all levels, with the idea that this person is dying.

Making a person who is dying more comfortable and alleviating physical pain is an important priority for family caregivers. Physical comfort and pain management should be the focus of providing end of life care.

End-of-life care decisions are often challenging and time-sensitive. Learning about how one can qualify for hospice and the specific services a hospice organization can provide will help minimize anxiety and confusion surrounding these important choices.

Many types of health benefits and insurance, including VA health benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare, will cover some or all of palliative care services at home.

When a senior loved one is receiving palliative care at home, different parts of Medicare will cover different items and services.

Hospice care at home provides relief for terminally ill patients while also supporting their family caregivers with respite and bereavement services.

Hospice care at home is covered by most health insurance plans, so patients and their families don’t usually have to pay anything out of pocket.

End-stage dementia is characterized by a rapid loss of speech and mobility as well as systemic infections as the body begins to shut down completely.

On its own, dementia doesn’t normally cause death. As it progresses, however, the condition can increase vulnerability to life-threatening infections.

When a loved one is facing the end of life, families often experience a whirlwind of emotions. A hospice chaplain explains the techniques he uses to help family members understand and forgive one another and get through trying times together.

Music has impressive healing powers for people of all ages but can be especially comforting for those who are terminally ill. Music-thanatologists are specially trained to use music to provide peace and reassurance throughout the dying process.

As dementia progresses and concurrent medical problems become more difficult to manage, tough questions can arise. This framework will help you navigate complicated healthcare decisions for a loved who is cognitively impaired.

Many elderly Americans are turning to skilled nursing care during their last few months of life, despite the fact that some may be better served by seeking palliative care services, such as hospice.

Despite the benefits of palliative medicine, many terminally ill seniors only receive hospice care for a few days or weeks before passing away. Why is it so difficult for families to seek comfort care for dying loved ones?